Sigma Rule Library

COLDSTEEL RAT Cleanup Command Execution

Detects the creation of a "rundll32" process from the ColdSteel persistence service to initiate the cleanup command by calling one of its own exports. This functionality is not present in "MileStone2017" and some "MileStone2016" samples

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Detection logic

selection

ParentImage|endswith: \svchost.exe
ParentCommandLine|contains:
  - " -k msupdate"
  - " -k msupdate2"
  - " -k alg"
Image|endswith: \rundll32.exe
CommandLine|contains:
  - UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevicesW
  - ServiceMain
  - DiUninstallDevice

Condition

selection

Raw YAML

title: COLDSTEEL RAT Cleanup Command Execution
id: 88516f06-ebe0-47ad-858e-ae9fd060ddea
status: test
description: Detects the creation of a "rundll32" process from the ColdSteel persistence service to initiate the cleanup command by calling one of its own exports. This functionality is not present in "MileStone2017" and some "MileStone2016" samples
references:
    - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/static-assets/documents/malware-analysis-reports/cold-steel/NCSC-MAR-Cold-Steel.pdf
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-04-30
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - detection.emerging-threats
    - attack.stealth
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\svchost.exe'
        ParentCommandLine|contains:
            - ' -k msupdate'
            - ' -k msupdate2'
            - ' -k alg'
        Image|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevicesW'
            - 'ServiceMain'
            - 'DiUninstallDevice'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: critical

False positives

  • Unlikely

References

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